Maqonda Ndlovu

Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin says Namibia’s nil-all draw against Ghana in their final preparatory game before heading off to Ivory Coast for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament is testament to the team’s hard work and focus, days before the kick-off.

The friendly match against Ghana was played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Monday evening.

Speaking after the match, Benjamin said his charges had shown hunger and determination against one of Africa’s top teams.

“Tonight’s (Monday) match showed that the Brave Warriors have character, willpower and are hungry. A hungry man is an angry man. This match has given us hope and confidence going into Afcon. I am proud of the work and resilience the boys showed during the match,” he said.

The former Hamburger SV player added that most people are not giving his side a chance at the tournament, a situation that fuels the team’s desire to produce a good performance to silence its critics.

“Ghana are a very good team — very physical, and with good individual brilliance. Equally, my team played a good game as a collective with a lot of energy, conviction, and enthusiasm. We could have taken a 2-0 lead at halftime. In the second half, Ghana increased the tempo, but we contained them,” he said.

Benjamin urged his players to take the chances they create in matches.

“It is a plus for us to create so many chances against a team like Ghana. My boys proved to be tricky in one-versus-one situations, and for us to get into the box, it tells us we are heading in the right direction,” he explained.

In terms of the match, Ghana started brightly, pinning Namibia in their half, but the Brave Warriors soon settled and started launching dangerous attacks.

Peter Shalulile and Deon Hotto proved to be problematic for the experienced Black Stars defence, while Lloydt Kazapua once again proved why he has been the country’s number one goal minder for the past few years.

Benjamin said the team’s target is to do better than the previous tournaments and make Namibians proud. 

The Brave Warriors are scheduled to leave Ghana, where they have been camped for the past two weeks, for Ivory Coast where they will set up camp in Korhogo before their first match against Tunisia on 16 January 2024. – jrnmarko@gmail.com/NFA